Animal trap



W. G. DAGUE O ct. 16, 1951 ANIMAL TRAP 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed July s.1947 Lima W. G. DAGUE Oct. 16, 1951 ANIMAL TRAP 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FiledJuly 8. 1947 INVENTOR, MGM/vr DAGUE;

Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMAL TRAP A WilliamGrant Dague, Claysville, Pa.

Application July 8,1947, Serial No. 759,659

This invention relates to a trap designed primarilyto catch smallanimals alive, such as rodents, and especially rats, although nolimitation as to such use is to be implied.

It is particularly aimed to provide a construction having a normallyopen entrance which will be closed only through the weight of a trappedanimal when adjacent said entrance.

Another object is to provide a trap having an entrance controlled by aclosure balanced in open position and operable to close under the weightof a trapped animal.

A further object is to provide a trap in the general form of a cageemploying a novel combination of successive generally conical tunnelstherein arranged for entrance of an animal through their larger ends,with the smaller end of the rst tunnel normally open and havingassociated means operable by a trapped animal adjacent the same to closeit, and with the smaller end of the other tunnel forming the directentrance to the captive chamber closed, except when opened throughactual contact therewith when an animal enters the captive chamber.

v The same specific` objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following, taken in connectio-n withthe accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment by way ofexample.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View in elevation of the improved trap;

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation; f f

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through thetrap, parts being broken away; l

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the closure actuating meansfor the entrance tunnel; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of entranceclosure actuating means. f

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts throughout the different views, the trapis generally in the form of an elongated cage I0, which is generallyopen so that the light will enter so as to thwart an animal to aminimum. This cage is primarily made of metallic netting or otherreticulated openwork material, for instance metallic hardware cloth orscreening forming an inverted U-shaped wall II which is se- 3 Claims.(Cl. 43-67) s than one of U-shape.

cured to a base of wood or other suitable material as at I2, the righthand end of the cagebeing open and the left hand end being closed by awall I3, preferably of wood.

Extending longitudinally within the cage II) is a tubular tunnel I3which is generally conical and having its larger end at the right handend of the trap, and constituting the entrance for' the animals. Thesmaller or inner end of the tunnel I3 is elevated withV respect to thebase I2 and is open at I4, such opening being in the under side of thetunnel and thus not in the direct line of the animals vision. A closureplate I5 is provided for the'opening I4. This closure plate I5 ispivotally mounted in any suitable way as by means of a hinge rod I5carried by the tunnel I3. To opposite ends of the hinge rod I6, aU-shaped link Il is secured which has ran extension I pivotally securedat I9 to a longitudinally extending lever Zit-which is fulcrumed on atransverse rod 2| having its Vends secured inA any suitable manner toopposite sides of -thewall II.- Y

, Pivotally secured to the lever 20 in the rear of the rod 2I as at 22,is an upright link 23 which isfpivoted at 24 to the rear end of aplatform 25 which extends approximately the full width of the base I2,and which at its forward end is hinged orpivoted at 26 to such base.

The closure plate I5 is normally open and seeks such normally openposition in order to lure the animal into the trap, and it is maintainedin and urged to such open position due to the fact that the variousparts, such as link II, lever 2Q, link 23 and platform 25 are balancedwhen the closure An animal will walk into the trap because the openingI4 is not closed; however, upon enter-v ing the opening I4 it will treadon the platform 25 and its weight will depress the latter, and..

.3 Y which will immediately close the opening I4 an maintain it closedas long as such platform is subject to the animals weight.

A second tunnel, which is designated 21, is arranged within the cage anydesired distance behind the tunnel I3 and closure I5 and operatingmechanism therefor. Tunnel 21 is secured to the Wall Il and to the baseI2, and both tunnels I3 and 21 are made of the same material asmentioned with respect to the wall I I, so that light will enter thetrap as an aid in luring an animal into the same.

Bait is placed in the trap on the base l2 as suggested at 28. An animalwhich enters the trap through the opening I 4 in its frenzy to escapewill pass through the tunnel 21, raising a closure plate 29 thereofpivoted thereto at 3D, and through the small end of the tunnel 21,entering the rear portion of the cage which constitutes a captivechamber at 3l, and which is of any desired size or extent in order toaccommodate a multiplicity of animals. The plateY 29. normally is closeddue to gravity, and it will only be open while an animal is in contactthere.- with and entering the captive chamber 3|. The trap will operateefficiently even in the absence 'of' the tunnel 21, but in actualpractice I have found that the eiliciency is augmented by itsemployment.

Plates I5 and 29 and platform 25 may be made of the same material ascage I or of any other material desired.

It will be understood that the animals may be removed from the captivechamber 3| in any suitable manner. By Way of example, I have shown aslidable closure at 32, which may be made of the same material as wallII and tunnels I3 and 21 in order that the light will penetrate thesame. This closure 32 is held in place and mounted for sliding movementby a frame 33 secured to the wall I3, and such closure 32 is adapted forraising and lowering through the manipulation of a handle or rod 34 inorder to open or expose an exit opening 35 in such rear Wall I3.

A handle may be provided, if desired, on the wall II as at 36.

It will be understood that in use, with bait located as at 28, an animalwill be lured through the tunnel I3. and will enter the interior of thetrap through the opening I4, through which it cannot return or escapedue to the fact that its weight will close the opening I4 by means ofplate I when such weight is imposed on the platform 25. The animal inits frenzy to escape will enter and pass through the tunnel 21 into thecaptive chamberY 3l, raising the plate 29 as it wedges beneath the sameand passes through the smaller or open end of such tunnel 21 and entersthe captive chamber. Particular attention is called te the fact that thetrap is ever set `and will catch successive animals, in view of the factthat the opening I4 will only be closed during the presence of an animalon the platform 25.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they7 fall within the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A trap comprising a foraminous cage, a

foraminous tunnel carried thereb57 forming the entrance thereto andhaving a discharge opening in its lower wall and elevated with respectto the bottom of the cage, leading to the interior of the cage, aclosure for said opening, a platform beneath said opening and closurepivoted to the cage adjacent the base thereof, a lever pivoted to thecage, a generally U-shaped link pivoted to the lever and straddling thetunnel and pivoted to said closure, and linkage pivoted to the lever onthe other side of its axis to the said link and also pivoted to theplatform, said platform, lever, link and linkage balancing said closurein an open position whereby the closure will close said opening whilesaid platform is subjected to the weight of a trapped animal.

2. A trap comprising a foraminous cage, a foraminous tunnel carriedthereby forming the entrance thereto and having a discharge opening inits lower wall and elevated with respect to the bottom of the cage,leading to the interior of the cage, a closure for said opening, aplat,- form beneath said opening and closure pivoted to the cageadjacent the base thereof, a IQd mounted within the cage, a lever havingcoils pivoted on said rod and arms extending in opposite directions fromsaid coils, a link pivoted to one of said arms and to said closure, andlinkage pivoted to the other arm on the other side of the axis of saidlever to the said link and also pivoted to the platform, said platform,lever, link and linkage balancing said closure in an open positionwhereby the closure will close said opening while said platform issubjected to the weight of a trapped animal.

3. A trap comprising a foraminous cage and an elongated foraminoustunnel extending into the cage and forming the entrance thereto andhaving a discharge opening in its lower wall elevated with respect tothe bottom of the cage, a closure for said opening pivoted to the tunnelhaving its pivotal axis nearest the entrance end of the tunnel, aplatform pivoted to the cage beneath and spaced from said opening andclosure, a lever pivoted to the cage higher than said closure, a linkdepending from the lever, and pivoted to said closure, and linkagepivoted to the lever on the other side of its axis to the said linkrearwardly of the tunnel and closure and also pivoted to the platform,said platform, lever link and linkage balancing said closure in an openposition whereby the closure will close said opening while said platformis subjected to the weight of a trapped animal.

WILLIAM GRANT BAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 107,844 Wood Sept. 27, 1870133,557 Baddeley Dec. 3',- 1872 721,321 Nesmith et al Feb. 24,Y 1903891,666 Brown June 23, 1908 1,472,423 Baker Oct. 30, 1923 1,479,509Meyer Jan. 1, 1924 1,726,493 Kelley Aug. 27, 1929

